Just a century ago, it was very easy to name a newborn child. On his birthday, mom and dad simply looked at the calendar and chose one of several options (sometimes there was only one). Today, not everyone follows church traditions, and many of the names of saints are outdated. And most often, parents give the baby a name based on fashion, wanting to stand out, or simply because they liked what their friends named the baby. Nevertheless, many people in our country baptize children; some take this Sacrament seriously, while others perceive it as a formality. What name is the baby given? And what to do if the worldly name is not in the calendar.
- 2 Baptism of an adult
2.1 Video: what name to give a child at baptism (the priest explains)
- 4.1 Video: why change a child’s name at baptism if it is not in the calendar (explains an Orthodox priest)
How to determine a child's baptismal name
Parents who take into account church traditions when choosing a name for a child proceed as follows:
- They look into the Monthly Book (printed in every Orthodox calendar), and choose the option they like from the list of male and female names.
- They can choose the name of a saint whose memory is celebrated in the coming days (before and after the baby’s birthday).
- They choose a name in honor of a saint who is especially revered in the family (for example, Nicholas the Pleasant).
Perhaps there is a particularly revered saint in the family, and the child was named after him
- The baby is named according to the vow. For example, a woman could not get pregnant for a long time and prayed to the Venerable Ksenia of St. Petersburg, promising that if the Lord gave her a daughter, she would name her Ksenia.
Perhaps the mother, after a long period of infertility, made a vow, for example, to Ksenia of Petersburg, that she would name her daughter in her honor
In addition, it happens that parents really like a certain name, and it is in the calendar. But childbirth, for example, falls in the spring, and the memory of a saint with this name is celebrated in the fall. In such cases, the Church has nothing against people implementing their plans.
For example, Vladislav has a name day only one day a year - October 7th. Of course, parents whose son was born far from this date are not prohibited from naming their son this way. Veronica's name day is October 17, Victoria's name day is only October 24, Valeria's is May 6 and June 20, Kira's is December 17 and March 13.
Some saints have name days only once a year, but you can still name your child that name
But there are male and female names that are quite popular today, whose name days are celebrated many times a year. Here are just a few examples:
- Maxim: days of remembrance of saints with the same name - September 12, September 18, September 28, October 8, October 22, November 4, November 5, November 9, November 10, November 12.
Name days of some saints with a certain name are celebrated many times a year
- Leo - September 20, September 24, October 24, November 25, December 20, January 12, February 2, March 3, March 5, May 31.
- Vasilisa - September 16, January 21, February 18, March 23, April 4, April 28, April 29, July 4.
- Angelina - September 12, December 23, July 14, August 12.
Features of choosing an Orthodox name
The saint, after whom the newborn was named, conveys to the betrothed his qualities, some character traits and influences the fate of the baby. He intercedes for the child before the Lord throughout his entire life. The day of his memory is considered the name day for the child.
Rules for choosing a name according to the Saints
Often the name recorded on the birth certificate does not match the name given at baptism. This is largely due to ignorance of the Orthodox calendar. According to church canons, a newborn is named according to the Saints as follows:
- on the eighth day after birth, according to Memorial Day on this date;
- if a suitable option is not available, look at the memorial days of the saints on the fortieth day;
- It is allowed to give the child the name of a patron whom his family honors.
Adult Baptism
In general, in Rus' they tried to baptize a born child as early as possible (due to the sad state of medicine at that time) - on the 3rd, 8th, less often on the 40th day. This was fundamentally different from the position of Catholics, who allowed baptism only at a conscious age (a person himself must make a choice, come to faith, and not his parents should decide for him).
Today, the Orthodox faith does not force everyone to be baptized only in infancy. Parents can let their child grow up and make important decisions on his own. In addition, this sometimes happens with unbaptized parents: the baby grows up and comes to faith as an adult, despite parental upbringing.
Some people are baptized as adults and can choose their own church name (including keeping their own)
Such a newly converted adult Christian can leave his own name at baptism, if it is in the calendar. But some people decide to change their name during the Sacrament of Baptism (perhaps for them this will symbolically emphasize spiritual rebirth). This needs to be discussed with the priest in advance: he, for example, will tell you that you can take a name that is consonant (especially if the person intends to change it in the passport). Or perhaps the person being baptized has already settled on a certain name, completely different from his worldly name (the main thing is that it is in the calendar).
Video: what name to give a child at baptism (the priest explains)
List of female and male Orthodox names
Christian names that are given to a child at baptism can be not only Russian. Greek, Hebrew and Latin versions are also recorded in the Saints. For boys, as a rule, there are more of them than for girls, and therefore babies can be called adapted analogues. Since the name is directly related to the date of birth, it is better to choose it by month.
January
Those born in the first winter month have a reserved but decisive character. January children grow up to be purposeful individuals with whom it is quite difficult to find mutual understanding.
Women's:
- Anastasia – reborn, immortal;
- Evgeniya – high-born;
- Anfisa – blooming;
- Natalya – born on Christmas, dear;
- Tatyana is the founder.
Men's:
- Vasily - royal;
- Semyon - heard by God;
- Pavel – junior;
- Ilya is a believer;
- Konstantin is permanent.
Popular female names
February
For children born in February, feelings and emotions prevail over reason. Excessive impulsiveness prevents them from becoming leaders, but such people know how to defend their interests.
A difficult character can be corrected with the right name. It is better if it sounds soft, without growling vowels.
Author's advice
Women's:
- Sophia - wise;
- Oksana – hospitable;
- Zoya – cheerful;
- Anna - God's mercy;
- Svetlana is bright.
Men's:
- Stepan – crowned;
- Anton - entering into battle;
- Maxim - majestic;
- Nicholas - conqueror of nations;
- Nikita is the winner.
March
Those born at the beginning of spring are usually gentle, timid, and easy to offend. They do not like conflicts, and therefore they try in every possible way to smooth out rough edges and find a compromise. A correctly chosen name can strengthen their faith and help them on their life path.
Women's:
- Nina – brave;
- Victoria is the winner;
- Olga is great;
- Maria – stubborn;
- Ekaterina is domineering.
Men's:
- Roman is from Rome;
- Michael - like the Lord;
- Gregory - not sleeping;
- Ivan - God's mercy;
- Valery is strong.
Popular male names
April
April children grow up to be stubborn dictators. They are distinguished by a purposeful, unbending disposition, and know how to achieve their goals. On their path in life, they are lucky; thanks to their cheerfulness, they always have friends nearby.
Women's:
- Claudia – persistent;
- Polina – liberated;
- Lydia – musical;
- Miroslava - illustrious;
- Galina is calm.
Men's:
- Sergey - highly respected;
- Vadim is a debater;
- Leonidas - like a lion;
- Zakhar - memorable to God;
- Kirill is the ruler.
May
May people are very optimistic, have a cheerful disposition, but are intolerant and do not know how to find compromises. A person born at the end of spring is distinguished by a sharp mind, principled, and stubborn.
Excessive pride can only be neutralized by a soft, pleasant-to-hear name.
Women's:
- Violetta - violet;
- Julia – fluffy;
- Taisiya – wise;
- Olesya is a protector;
- Alina is noble.
Men's:
- Kuzma - order;
- Leonty - lion;
- Savva is a sage;
- Vitaly – vital;
- Fedor - given by the Lord.
June
Children born at the beginning of summer are timid and cautious, sometimes being too naive. They have a vulnerable, romantic nature, and therefore they are not always able to withstand life’s failures.
Women's:
- Euphrosyne - joyful;
- Diana – divine;
- Faith is true;
- Pavla – small, youngest;
- Angelica is angelic.
Men's:
- Igor – militant;
- Timothy - worshiper of the Lord;
- Egor is a farmer;
- Nazar - originally from Nazareth;
- Denis – belonging to Dionysus.
July
July people are sensitive and have well-developed empathy. They know how to win someone over, hear their interlocutor, and understand him on a spiritual level. Creative personalities are often born in July.
Women's:
- Alexandra is a protector;
- Varvara is a foreigner;
- Marina – lover of the sea;
- Veronica – pure;
- Margarita is a pearl.
Men's:
- Anatoly - sunrise;
- Arseny – courageous;
- Samson - sunny;
- Philip – lover of horses;
- Stanislav - who became famous.
Names common among Orthodox Christians
August
At the end of summer, people are born who strive for leadership and love personal freedom. They have a strong intellect, are sociable, and make friends easily. A selfish disposition helps them achieve their goals and always be in the center of attention.
August babies should be given a name that will highlight their inner self.
Women's:
- Maria – stubborn;
- Elena – chosen one;
- Daria - given by the Lord;
- Anna – gracious;
- Iraida is the hero’s daughter.
Men's:
- Trofim is the breadwinner;
- Alexander – defender;
- German - close, dear;
- Matvey - God's gift;
- Valentin is strong.
September
Children born in early autumn are usually hardworking and learn to achieve their goals with age. They do not like conflicts, but they are capable of losing their temper without a reason. To smooth out their irritability, the name should be simple.
Women's:
- Anna – gracious;
- Natalya – dear;
- Ksenia – hospitable;
- Lyudmila - sweetheart;
- Irina is peace-loving.
Men's:
- Andrey - brave;
- Gennady – well-born;
- Yakov - following the trail;
- Athanasius - immortal;
- Ivan is God's reward.
October
October people are realists who like to double-check everything. They do not take anyone's word for it, preferring to verify everything from their own experience. Their character is calm, pragmatic, balanced.
Women's:
- Euphrosyne - joyful;
- Polina – liberated;
- Karina is impeccable;
- Elizabeth – worshiper of the Lord;
- Miroslava - illustrious.
Men's:
- Alexey – protective;
- Oleg – sacred;
- Vladimir - owner of the world;
- Peter is a stone;
- Benjamin is the beloved son.
November
People born in November have a difficult character. From childhood they grow up selfish and have a decisive but tough disposition. They easily achieve their goals, they can be tough and go over their heads.
Thanks to the name, you can soften tyrannical tempers and smooth out negative character traits.
Women's:
- Glyceria – sweet;
- Anastasia - resurrection;
- Agafya – chaste;
- Alena - beloved;
- Matryona is noble.
Men's:
- Zinovy – vital force;
- Victor is the winner;
- Eugene – high-born;
- Irakli - glorious;
- Gregory is awake.
The meaning of some female and male names
December
December children are born with explosive temperaments. They can flare up instantly, but their aggression does not last long. Such people know how to forgive, do not hold grudges, and always say what they think.
Women's:
- Tamara – regal;
- Ekaterina – pure;
- Yana – blooming;
- Faith is true;
- Angelina is an angel.
Men's:
- Yuri is a farmer;
- Valery – cheerful;
- Vsevolod – owner;
- Gabriel - God's power;
- Plato is broad-shouldered.
By naming a newborn, we determine his future fate. A correctly chosen name can help a child on his life’s path, while an unsuccessful one will cause constant difficulties.
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There is a child’s name in the calendar, but with a different sound: how to baptize Artyom, Svetlana, Denis and others
If we do not find the name of a child in the calendar, this does not always mean that he is not there. Often there are simply archaic forms that are unusual for us today. There are many examples:
- Julia - Julia.
- Ulyana - Juliana.
- Ivan, Jan - John.
- Yana, Zhanna - Joanna.
- Angela - Angelina.
- Stepan - Stefan.
- Denis - Dionysius.
- Artyom - Artemy.
- Yuri - Georgy.
- Angela - Angelina.
- Sergey - Sergey.
- Lily - Leah.
- Aksinya - Ksenia.
- Ilona, Nelly - Elena.
- Egor, Yuri - Georgy.
Some worldly names are not in the calendar, but there are names with a similar sound (archaic), an example of this is Julia and Julia
Some Slavic names have the same meaning as church names (usually Greek). An example of this is Svetlana. A girl with this name can be christened Photinia (from the Greek “light”).
Some names have their own church analogues, but not based on sound, but in meaning (for example, Svetlana - Fotinia)
A similar pair of names is Bogdan and Theodotus (Greek: “given by God”).
